46 children killed or injured on Dorset's roads in 2020
Schoolchildren across the South West are marching for safer roads today
Hundreds of children have been killed or injured on Dorset's roads since 2016, new figures reveal.
Schoolchildren in the South West are taking to the streets around their schools today to raise awareness of the need for safer journeys, as 19 children are killed or injured on the region’s roads every week.
In Dorset, 355 children have been killed or injured since 2016.
Schools are running a campaign to raise awareness alongside charity 'Brake' which will see more than 90,000 children from over 600 schools and nurseries take part.
The children will take part in short, supervised walks at or around their schools and nurseries. They will carry banners and posters provided by Brake to help raise awareness of the five things they need to help keep them safe near roads: footpaths, cycle paths, safe places to cross, slow traffic and clean traffic.
For the first time this year, Brake has provided schools with a Kids’ manifesto for safe and healthy journeys that they can use to help them ask local or national decision-makers to address their local road dangers. The charity hopes to help children understand that their voice is important and empower them to ask grown-ups to keep them safe near roads, including through creation of safe spaces for them to walk and ride.
Scott Williams, head of programme delivery at Brake, said: “It’s every child’s right to be able to walk in their community without fear of traffic and pollution. It is vital that children can walk safely in the places where they live. We’re delighted that so many children, schools and families are taking part in Brake’s Kids Walk 2022 and shouting out for the things they need to make safe journeys.”
David McMillan, CEO at esure Group added: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Brake’s Kids Walk and to raise awareness of the importance of safer roads and cleaner air for schoolchildren across the UK. Brake’s Kids Walk is an important opportunity to raise awareness about road safety messages.”